Prison Service Research Articles

“There is More to It than Recidivism” – Outcome Scores among Released Prisoners who participated in Prison-Based “Employment World” Programmes

AbstractIn the quest for effective prisoner rehabilitation, while there is existing literature that predominantly emphasizes recidivism rates, it is important to recognize that this singular focus may sometimes overshadow the broader dimensions crucial for successful societal reintegration. This study, therefore, investigates the multifaceted outcomes of an employment training programme offered by the Israel Prison Service. Employing propensity score matching, we compared outcomes between programme participants and non-participants. Our analysis encompassed recidivism rates, employment stability, income levels, tax-paying behaviour and welfare service engagement. While recidivism rates remained largely unaffected, our findings unveiled promising results in other domains. Programme participants exhibited enhanced employment stability, realized higher incomes, demonstrated increased engagement in tax-paying and accessed welfare services more frequently. This study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to assessing rehabilitation effectiveness, extending beyond the singular metric of recidivism. While acknowledging certain limitations, our research highlights that employment training programmes may not have a direct impact on recidivism but can significantly contribute to labour market reintegration and promote more productive and socially responsible behaviours. It advocates further exploring diverse outcome measures to develop holistic rehabilitation strategies.

Deaths among adults under supervision of the England and Wales’ probation services: variation in individual and criminal justice-related factors by cause of death

BackgroundThe mortality rate among people under probation supervision in the community is greater than that among incarcerated people and that among the general population. However, there is limited research on the distinct vulnerabilities and risks underlying the causes of death in this population. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the individual and criminal justice-related factors associated with different causes of death. Factors were assessed in relation to the type of supervision, distinguishing between those under post-custodial release and those serving a community sentence.ResultsThe study utilised the official data held by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales on the deaths of men and women under probation supervision between 01 April 2019 and 31 March 2021 where the cause of death had been definitively recorded (n = 1770). The high risk of deaths primarily caused by external factors (i.e., suspected suicide (10%), homicide (5%), and drug-related death (26%)) in this population was confirmed. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) demonstrated unique relationships with suspected suicide and drug-related deaths for known suicide risk, history of drug use and recent (< 28 days of death) enforcement action due to a breach of probation conditions. Our findings suggest that that familial violence and abuse may be relevant in suicide and drug-related deaths and that minority groups may experience disproportional risk to certain types of death.ConclusionsThis study identified unique risk indicators and modifiable factors for deaths primarily caused by external factors in this population within the health and justice spheres. It emphasised the importance of addressing health inequalities in this population and improved joint-working across health and justice. This involves ensuring that research, policies, training, and services are responsive to the complex needs of those under probation supervision, including those serving community sentences. Only then can we hope to see lower rates of death within this population.

Understanding the retention factors of prison officers within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)

PurposeAvoidable voluntary turnover negatively impacts an organisation’s workforce and decreases its sustainability and productivity. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) leaving rates are among the highest in the public sector. The purpose of this study is, thus, to support HMPPS in improving Band 3 prison officers’ (POs) retention and in developing an effective employee retention strategy.Design/methodology/approachGrounded in retention literature, the present study uses a mixed-methods, cross-sectional, phenomenological research design. Primary data was gathered using an online qualitative survey, which was sent to POs working at a public sector prison in the Northwest of England with less than five years of work experience.FindingsThe results highlight the impact of career development and training and development due to their importance to POs in comparison to the POs’ dissatisfaction with HMPPS’ performance in both factors. Furthermore, most expectations of retention factors were only partially met, illustrating the need to reform the existing recruitment process and the translation of expectations into the reality of the role. In conclusion, HMPPS should focus attention on performance-improvement, especially in relation to career development and training and development, as well as investigating and reforming the current recruitment processes.Practical implicationsRecommendations to improve the retention of POs include the improved management of career plans, an increased selection of managers based on their management abilities, increasing training opportunities and equating staff's access to them, and evaluating the effect of payment boosts.Originality/valueThe role of POs and their professional environment has not previously been combined with contemporary retention literature. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research paper is the first of its kind using qualitative data to understand retention in the English and Welsh prison service.

Suicide following a conviction, solitary confinement, or transfer in people incarcerated: A comprehensive retrospective cohort study in France, 2017-2020.

Suicide rates are higher in prison than in the general population in most countries. The proximity of some suicides to prison events has only received little attention in comparative studies. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between suicide and four prison events: conviction, disciplinary solitary confinement, nondisciplinary solitary confinement and inter-prison transfer, in a national retrospective cohort study of people in prison. All incarcerations in France that occurred during 2017-2020 were eligible. Data were collected from an administrative database of the National Prison Service. Survival bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed with a Cox regression model. Of 358,522 incarcerations were included, among which 469,348 events and 449 suicides occurred. In multivariate analysis, suicide risk was higher the first day of disciplinary solitary confinement (HR = 42.1 [21.5-82.7] and HR = 119.0 [71.5-197.9], before and after a government decree on the disciplinary system, respectively. It was higher within 2 weeks after a transfer (HR = 3.5 [2.3-5.2])) or entry in nondisciplinary solitary confinement (HR = 6.7 [3.4-13.3]) and lower within 2 weeks after a conviction (HR = 0.6 [0.4-1.0]). Solitary confinement and transfer were found to be precipitating factors of suicide in people who are incarcerated. These results offer interesting perspectives on prevention.

Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Initiatives in Reducing Recidivism in Tanzania: Evidence from Isanga and Ukonga Central Prisons

Although there have been different rehabilitation activities introduced by Tanzania Prison Services (TPS) since independence to reduce recidivism, the rate of recidivism has remained relatively high with the prevalence of reoffending and stigma on the part of ex-prisoners. Failure to effectively implement rehabilitation activities is said to be among the causes of an increase in recidivism by the ex-prisoners. With support from cognitive behavioural therapy, human capital theory, and labelling theory, this study aimed to explore the effects of rehabilitation activities on reducing recidivism in Tanzania by combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, discussions, and observations. Quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. Findings revealed that informal rehabilitation activities were not able to reduce the reoffending behaviour of recidivists. The effective rehabilitation activities were those focused on life skills, psychosocial aspects, and educational programs. Problems such as curriculum design, financial constraints, infrastructure limitations, attendance problems, and varying literacy levels among prisoners pose obstacles to the effective rehabilitation of prisoners. Therefore, rehabilitation initiatives should focus on generating practical skills that contribute to the successful reintegration of prisoners into society. In addition, life skills, spiritual, psychological, and educational programs must be supported by authentic curricula and well-defined delivery modes. Prison management should also be sensitized to the importance of disciplinary science, aftercare services, and startup capital for enhancing reintegration, proper rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism among prisoners.

The importance of professional ethics of Prison Service officers

The article undertakes an in-depth analysis of the importance of the principles of professional ethics in regards to Prison Service officers and finding an answer to the question of what values and norms are crucial for the functioning of this formation. In addition, key threats to the professional ethics of officers and employees of the Prison Service were characterized.

Approaches to Successfully Delivering Rehabilitative Services in Prison: Perspectives from Non-Uniform Correctional Staff in Eight States

Non-uniform staff help create prison social climate by providing services that include educational and vocational classes, mental health counseling, employment and reentry preparedness, and family-strengthening activities. The present study examines how non-uniform correctional staff perceive their association with successful delivery of rehabilitative services in correctional settings. After accompanying hundreds of non-uniform prison staff throughout their daily professional routines and conducting interviews with them in institutions supervised by eight different U.S. state prison systems, a threefold typology of approaches to successfully delivering rehabilitative services in prison was identified: holistic, pragmatic, and community-oriented.

Exploring factors influencing outpatient radiology attendance based on Health Belief Model (HBM): A qualitative study

IntroductionNon-attendance for radiology outpatient appointments is a global issue and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and operational inefficiencies. This paper aims to understand the underlying factors influencing outpatient radiology attendances based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). MethodsPurposive sampling was used to recruit patients (n=30) for in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews. Inclusion criteria comprised participants who were above 21 years old and fluent in English, while participants reliant on third-party assistance (e.g., nursing homes and prison services), to attend the appointment were excluded. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) was utilised to guide the reporting of this study. The data analysis involved a hybrid thematic analysis approach using NVivo. ResultsSix key themes associated with appointment adherence in radiology were identified. These themes included: 1) prioritising health and acceptance of current medical conditions; 2) the impact of perceived severity on non-attendance; 3) perceived benefits of attending appointments; 4) perceived barriers to attendance; 5) influential prompts; and 6) confidence in attendance. ConclusionThis is the first study of its kind to utilise the HBM to examine factors influencing attendance adherence among radiology outpatients in Singapore. Costs, prompts, and the perceived severity of the condition play pivotal roles in shaping the health-seeking behaviours of these outpatients while professionalism of healthcare staff and barriers to attendance present opportunities for providers to address patients' lack of interest towards their appointments. Implications for practiceFindings of this study will contribute to the development of personalised, targeted interventions for improving patient engagement and attendance in radiology settings.

Reproductive Health Problems and Health Care Services Offered to Female Inmates of Women Jail Multan

Background: Women prisoners’ health is one of the major challenges among public health issues since the increasing incarceration rate has a direct impact on prisoners’ health status. Female prisoners often face many health issues in which most important are reproductive health problems. The prison services regarding reproductive health needs of female inmates vary in every jail. Unfortunately, in many prisons, health care services for women are still not adequate. &#x0D; Objectives: The objectives of the study are to determine the frequency of reproductive health problems of female inmates and to assess the health care services offered to female inmates of Women Jail Multan. &#x0D; Method: It was cross-sectional descriptive study in which 118 female inmates of reproductive age group were included. Data was collected through questionnaire which was entered in to computer using SPSS 20.0. Frequencies and percentages were calculated and data was presented in tables. Means, Standard Deviations and Correlation were calculated. ANOVA was applied to test significance and Chi-square test was applied. Level of significance was kept at p ≤ 0.05. &#x0D; Results: Among 118 female inmates, 33.9% were 31-40 years old, 87.3% were married and 78.0% were illiterate. The length of incarceration of 42.4% female inmates was upto 12 months. 35.0% had 1-2 children and 16.5% were living in jail with their children. Majority (92.4%) had gynecological problem and 82.2% had medical problems while 11.0% had experienced sexual violence by jail staff. Only 2 females were pregnant. 100.0% female inmates had availability of lady doctor or LHV for antenatal check-up.100.0% female inmates were provided proper diet and food supplements and the quality of food was satisfactory. &#x0D; Conclusion: Study revealed that health care services for reproductive problems including obstetric and gynecological issues was satisfactory however prevalence of gynecological issues was high. Sexual violence of female inmates faced by jail staff during imprisonment was noticed for which strict legislative measures should be taken.&#x0D;

‘Violence is all he knew, and it seemed to work’: using the power threat meaning framework to explore prison officers’ understandings of violence in Irish prisons

ABSTRACT In 2018 the Irish Prison Service (IPS) opened the National Violence Reduction Unit (NVRU), becoming home to all prisoners managed under the Violently Disruptive Prisoner (VDP) policy, who were repeatedly engaged in serious violence in prison. Embedded in the NVRU is a joint operational-psychological approach, aiming to understanding the violence of these prisoners, and work with them to reduce it. This study explored NVRU prison officers’ understandings of the origins, experiences and expressions of the violence of NVRU prisoners, through the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF). Prison officers (n = 13) participated in semi-structured interviews at two time-points: 6 months after the NVRU opening (n = 13), and 12 months after the NVRU opening (n = 11). From these aggregated transcripts (n = 24), 6 themes were identified: (1) power, (2) threat, (3) meaning, (4) threat response, (5) function of threat response, and (6) moderating factors. Prison officers confirmed many a priori elements of the existing provisional PTMF, whilst also contributing novel elements related to their subjective understandings of this specific cohort. These findings are interpreted in the context of existing empirical research. Implications for future research, and policy and practice within and beyond the NVRU, are suggested.

Public Services for Prisoners in Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB

This research aimed to 1) To find out whether health services for Prisoners (Indonesian: Warga Binaan Pemasyarakatan or WBP) at Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB have been met according to basic health care service standards; 2) To find out whether health services for Prisoners at Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB have been met according to basic standards of infrastructure, and; 3) To find out whether health services for Prisoners at Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB have been met according to basic human resource standards; The research method used is a qualitative research method with purposive sampling technique. The results of the research show that 1) Basic health care service standards in Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB, which are described in 13 basic health care standard parameters, have in principle been attempted to be implemented, but the facts described show that not all of them meet the standards; 2) The basic standards of facilities and infrastructure to support the implementation of health services as previously described have not been met ideally in accordance with the supposed needs; 3) Fulfillment of basic human resource standards to support health services in Tondano Correctional Institution Class IIB cannot be achieved due to limited human resources.

Prison chaplaincy, church and the powers that be

ABSTRACT This article explores the organisational culture and context in which prison chaplains, as representatives of the Christian Church, work within the Scottish Prison Service. It draws on the ideas of the American theologian Walter Wink (1935–2012), on his concept of powers and the assertion that all organisations and institutions have their own spirituality and associated impact. To explore what shapes this spirituality, I consider various elements which create a cultural web, such as symbols, space, security, seeing, stories, routines and rituals. The complicity and challenge of any chaplain embedded in an organisation with a different spirituality and worldview to that of the host is discussed. The power of life-giving liturgy in the everyday is offered as a counter-cultural stance to the powers that be in any organisation.

Public Relations of Disposable Groups Using The Example Of The Prison Service

Public relations (PR) activities in the Prison Service have a different hierarchy of objectives from the traditional marketing approach. The priority is to show the public the organisation’s activities and their benefits, as the institution serves the public and is publicly funded. The publication presents the essence of public relations, its definitional approach, the specifics of the prison guard profession and the public relations activities carried out by the press and information services of the Prison Service. The main objective of the work focuses on the analysis of public communication activities and the diagnosis of the degree of their professionalism. The paper uses both theoretical and empirical research methods, including literature analysis, analysis of activities undertaken by the Prison Service and inference as a cognitive factor in the analysis of the issue. At the same time, the paper attempts to answer the question – based on the results of individual questionnaire surveys – what public relations tools influence the formation of a positive image of the Prison Service? The results of the research indicate that factors such as guards’ interpersonal skills, clear and transparent information about the functioning of the institution and communication with the environment determine the positive image of penitentiary units. At the same time, it can be concluded that a positive image is derived from the effectiveness of its activities in ensuring public safety.

Resuscitation with pre-hospital blood products in adults with trauma-related haemorrhagic shock: the RePHILL RCT

Background The treatment of traumatic haemorrhagic shock has been transformed through better haemorrhage control, use of tranexamic acid and use of blood products. The improved survival seen from these strategies has stimulated an interest in pre-hospital transfusion. Objectives To determine if the clinical effectiveness of resuscitation with red blood cells and lyophilised plasma was superior to 0.9% saline for improving tissue perfusion and reducing mortality in adults with haemorrhagic shock following major trauma. Design A multi-centre, allocation concealed, open-label, parallel group, randomised controlled trial (with internal pilot). Setting The trial was conducted in four civilian pre-hospital critical care services who operated within the National Health Service (NHS) England Major Trauma Networks. Participants Adults (aged ≥16 years) who had sustained traumatic injuries, were attended by a pre-hospital emergency medical team and were hypotensive (systolic blood pressure &lt;90 mmHg or absence of radial pulse) as a consequence of traumatic haemorrhage were eligible for inclusion. The exclusion criteria were known or apparently &lt;16 years, blood administered on scene prior to arrival of the RePHILL team, traumatic cardiac arrest where (1) the arrest occurred prior to arrival of the team and/or (2) the primary cause is not hypovolaemia, refusal of blood product administration, known Jehovah’s Witness, pregnancy, isolated head injury without evidence of external haemorrhage, prisoners in the custody of HM Prison and Probation Service. Interventions Participants were randomised to receive up to either two units each of red blood cells and lyophilised plasma or up to 1 L 0.9% saline. Treatment was administered through the intravenous or intraosseous route. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was a composite of episode mortality and/or impaired lactate clearance. The secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome. Results From 6 December 2016 to 2 January 2021, pre-hospital medical teams randomised 432 participants to red blood cell/lyophilised plasma (n = 209) or 0.9% saline (n = 223) out of a target sample size of 490. Most participants were white (62%), males (82%), median age 38 (interquartile range 26 to 58), involved in a road traffic collision (62%) with severe injuries (median injury severity score 36, interquartile range 25 to 50). Prior to randomisation participants had received on average 430 ml crystalloid fluids and tranexamic acid (90%). The primary outcome occurred in 128/199 (64.3%) of participants randomised to red blood cell/lyophilised plasma and 136/210 (64.8%) randomised to 0.9% saline [adjusted risk difference –0.025% (95% confidence interval –9.0% to 9.0%), p = 0.996]. The event rates for the individual components of the primary outcome, episode mortality and lactate clearance were not statistically different between groups [adjusted average differences −3% (−12% to 7%); p = 0.57 and −5% (−14% to 5%), p = 0.33, respectively]. Limitations Recruitment stopped prematurely due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Future work Identify the characteristics of patients who may benefit from pre-hospital blood products and whether alternative transfusion regimens are superior to standard care. Conclusions The trial did not demonstrate that pre-hospital red blood cell/lyophilised plasma resuscitation was superior to 0.9% saline for trauma-related haemorrhagic shock. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN62326938. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme (NIHR award ref: 14/152/14) and is published in full in Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Vol. 11, No. 2. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Prison Mental Health – An Indian Perspective

Abstract The prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychological maladjustments is significantly high among prisoners due to a multitude of factors. However, prisoners are among the most medically underserved groups of society, especially for the mental health aspects. Recently, there has been an increase in awareness on the need of mental health services for prisoners. This short communication is intended to review the available research on prison mental health in India and also to propose recommendations to design and implement robust strategies to plan interventions.

POLSKA SŁUŻBA WIĘZIENNA W DZIAŁANIACH SPRZYJAJĄCYCH SPOŁECZNEJ READAPTACJI OSADZONYCH

The aim of the article is to present the most important tasks and possibilities of the Prison Service in supporting the process of social readaptation of inmates. They are implemented by the formation within the penitentiary system or in cooperation with other institutions, organizations and associa-tions.

Pendampingan Pembuatan Teh Daun Mint Untuk Meningkatkan Jiwa Wirausaha Warga Binaan Rutan KLS II B Situbondo

The State Detention Center (RUTAN) is an integral part of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which is entrusted with the responsibility for executing the main tasks of the Ministry in the aspects of placement, care and services for prisoners. A concrete example of a detention center is the Situbondo Class II B Detention Center, a correctional institution located in Situbondo Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. Individuals serving a sentence in a class II B State Detention Center, including inmates or detainees, have the need to improve their skills during the period of their detention. One of the rehabilitative activities carried out in prison is the practice of hydroponics, where one type of plant grown is mint. So far, the harvest of mint plants has been sold directly to prison visitors and also promoted at car free day activities in the Situbondo square. It was revealed that the leaves of the mint plant have significant health value and can be processed into herbal tea. In this context, assistance was provided with the process of making mint leaf tea at the Class II B Detention Center in Situbondo as part of efforts to diversify medicinal plants. This program aims to achieve two main benefits. First, stimulate the motivation of inmates to develop entrepreneurial skills after they are released from punishment, with the hope of improving their economic conditions. Second, increase their understanding of the processing of agricultural products, especially mint leaves which are processed into herbal tea. Training and practical methods are directly applied in this empowerment activity. The results include increased knowledge and skills in processing mint leaves into herbal tea. The final product of this program is herbal tea with an attractive and informative packaging design.

The Consequences of the Pandemic in the Hungarian Penitentiary System

The Covid-19 epidemic put significant pressure on national penitentiary services all over the world to control the impacts of the pandemic on closed prison environments. The prison services of the member states of the Council of Europe responded with incredible speed and effectiveness with preventive and administrative measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The objective of the Council of Europe, EuroPris and other international organisations, was to support the member states’ responses to the situation in prisons by facilitating the exchange of information and best practices. The present study examines and analyses the statements and recommendations of the most important bodies and committees of the Council of Europe, in parallel with measures and solutions implemented in Hungary, in the light of international recommendations.The paper is based on a descriptive analysis of the Council of Europe expectations and recommendations and their applicability in the Hungarian prison system. Hungary has successfully processed and incorporated almost all of the expectations of the international parties, in fact, the country took further steps to make the pandemic’s outreached contacts of prisoners and relatives more colourful and active.Prevention and control measures adopted in a timely manner were effective both in Hungary and in other Council of Europe member states. This study highlights the critical importance of rapid and appropriate actions by international control bodies and the open and cooperative response of the national prison services.

Shaping Public Security at the Level of Local Communities According to Prison Service Officers. Results of a Pilot Study

Shaping Public Security at the Level of Local Communities According to Prison Service Officers. Results of a Pilot Study

Scale-up of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment in Prisons Is Both Cost-effective and Key to Hepatitis C Virus Elimination.

The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners With Hepatitis C (SToP-C) study demonstrated that scaling up of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment reduced hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of scaling up HCV treatment in statewide prison services incorporating long-term outcomes across custodial and community settings. A dynamic model of incarceration and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) in New South Wales, Australia, was extended to include former PWID and those with long-term HCV progression. Using Australian costing data, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of scaling up HCV treatment in prisons by 44% (as achieved by the SToP-C study) for 10 years (2021-2030) before reducing to baseline levels, compared to a status quo scenario. The mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated by comparing the differences in costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) between the scale-up and status quo scenarios over 40 years (2021-2060) discounted at 5% per annum. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Scaling up HCV treatment in the statewide prison service is projected to be cost-effective with a mean ICER of A$12 968/QALY gained. The base-case scenario gains 275 QALYs over 40 years at a net incremental cost of A$3.6 million. Excluding DAA pharmaceutical costs, the mean ICER is reduced to A$6 054/QALY. At the willingness-to-pay threshold of A$50 000/QALY, 100% of simulations are cost-effective at various discount rates, time horizons, and changes of treatment levels in prison and community. Scaling up HCV testing and treatment in prisons is highly cost-effective and should be considered a priority in the national elimination strategy. NCT02064049.